Open Doors: Conversations with Heart of the Father

Do you ever think about angels or just wonder about divine mysteries?

In this fascinating episode, we hear from Msgr. Brian Bransfield who served as the General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2015 to 2020.  He's a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has his doctorate in moral theology,  and is the author of many books including his recent Angels: Our
Guardians in Spiritual Battle, which he describes as “a user-friendly, easy to
read map” that can help us see where the angels lead us.

Msgr. Bransfield tells of first meeting angels as a child and continues with an
exploration of the role angels play in our lives, their power, and what their
invisibility suggests to us.

We learn what angels aren’t - ghosts, phantoms, fiction - and what they are
- real, personal beings, created by God who are present to assist us.
“The holy angels always begin something in us and they beckon us farther and
they serve as our guardian,” states Msgr. Bransfield. He lists the three
common misconceptions regarding angels and how misguided expectations
can place a burden upon us.

Jesus was ministered to by angels when he hit rock bottom and we can be
sure that God has given us these special helpers as well to challenge, coach,
protect and help us to follow the light of Jesus.
Don’t wing it in your assumptions about angels. Listen and understand the
the reality of these unseen beings.

Find Msgr. Bransfield's book  Angels: Our Guardians in Spiritual Battle
Meet us in Austin

Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024
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Release: January 2024
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm
Production by Henry Aquino

“And then the beginnings of Unbound began!!”

Get ready for this exciting second part of Neal and Janet’s story about the beginnings of Unbound. Hear how God used a prophetic word spoken over Neal to help him find someone’s name in his Rolodex!

Neal shares of the exciting 30-Day Renewal and Reconciliation event that brought people from various ethnicities, cultures, and denominations together. Janet expounds, saying, “This is what the church is supposed to be!”

Hearing more teachings on deliverance helps Neal refine the pattern of prayer he had already been developing when ministering to people.

From there, we go to Poland where Neal leads a conference and sees extraordinary results when applying this specific prayer pattern. Neal receives prophetic words about being a father to people, even to the soles of his sandals!

Upon return to the States, Neal hears the same question from two different sources, “When are you going to write your book?” Neal describes what he pictured as he wrote and prayed.

You won’t want to miss this second episode celebrating the Platinum Anniversary of Unbound!

Meet us in Austin
Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024
Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: January 2024
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm

In this sweet episode, Neal and Janet describe their individual spiritual journeys in the early years leading up to Unbound. They tell of specific people and places where they experienced God’s call on each of their lives.

Neal reveals what event caused him to begin searching for spiritual answers and how the prayer of his cousin Fr. Mike Scanlan was later followed by his own sincere prayer and how he experienced God’s loving presence.

Janet shares her story of being invited to a prayer group in college, responding to God, and finding Christian community in the process.

Neal and Janet continue their story together, sharing what inspired them to begin living in community with other Christians. After some years, Neal sought God amidst the ups-and-downs and shared the moment when God melted his heart allowing him to identify unexpectedly with the prodigal son’s older brother.

Hear how Janet received a surprising prophetic word that seemed strange and random but has indeed proven true.

In the end, we discover who the mystery person was who invited Janet to her first prayer group meeting!

Join us in the first of two episodes with our beloved Neal and Janet Lozano hosted by Jenn Lozano.

Meet us in Austin 
Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024
Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: January 2024
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm

To kick off the New Year, we thought it would be a great time to discuss hope. Since the beginning of a New Year often is a time filled with hope,  joining Jenn today is a friend who is infectious in her hope and her fervor for the Lord. 

With the grace of God and inspired by the love of Christ, Terry Riggins has been on evangelistic trips all around the world, most notably to the underground church in China.  She worked with the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia as coordinator of Deliverance Ministry, bringing Unbound Ministry to the diocese, as well as served as liaison for the Charismatic Renewal for 10 years until her recent retirement.

Some of the highlights of this episode:

"If God wants me to do it, He's going to equip me. So that was the trajectory that Unbound just completely changed. Because then, here I became the person who received every phone call from everybody in the diocese that wanted deliverance. And I had to evangelize them, catechize them, love them, talk to them, just be there for them, as well as present their case to the team and figure out what approach we were going to take with those individuals.

And 90 percent of the time it was Unbound prayer. And we prayed with folks and we trained teams. Heart of the Father came down to help me train teams and  I would train teams on my own. We prayed with thousands of people and we never got a complaint to the Bishop about unbound prayer ever. That's awesome. Isn't that amazing?

Yes. It's amazing when we open ourselves up to God and allow Him to come in and remove those obstacles. That's what He can set us up to do! "

Listen to more wonderful stories as Terry shares about her mission trips to the underground church in China, walking through cancer,  and more.

Guaranteed, you will not be the same after this episode!

Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024

Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: January 2024
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm

Amid your Advent busyness, take some time for joy and reflection with Heart of the Father Ministries!

Jenn hosts Matt and Jacqueline in this final podcast of our Advent series. 

Scripture Luke 1:26-38

In this episode, Matt reflects on how God shows up and delivers Israel at a very low point. We learn how Miriam and Leah in the Old Testament relate to Mary and Elisabeth in the New Testament.

In barrenness we say to ourselves, “I dreamed my life would be this and now it’s this.” And yet the barrenness can turn into conception because nothing is impossible with God.

The legacy of sin is shown in Rachel weeping for her children because they are no more. We cry out, “How long oh Lord, how long?” We wait for the tears to be overtaken with joy. We long for that great reversal, that our mouths will be filled with laughter again. 

There is a profound connection between Eve and the Virgin Mary—how Eve’s disobedience brought death and Mary’s obedience brought life.

We may not know how our barrenness will be taken away, but we can give God our ‘yes’ and our obedience as we wait for God and look with eyes of faith as Mary did.

Listen and have hope that whatever barrenness you’re experiencing, the promise of Jesus is an overflowing cup and His promises will be fulfilled.
 

Support our mission and donate today to our annual appeal- Dream and Expect

Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024

Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: December 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

Jenn hosts Neal and Jacqueline as the Open Doors Advent series begins. 

The text is Isaiah 40:3-5 with Neal reflecting on the richness and beauty of Advent and the meaning of the Latin word Adventus.

Hear Neal’s favorite definition of faith and a lively discussion surrounding the Advent themes of Preparation and Promise with Jenn relating these to having company over and Jacqueline likening them to an ongoing construction project. 

The first Advent candle stands for hope and Neal talks about the prophet Simeon’s example of waiting, preparation, and prophecy. Listen to real-life examples surrounding waiting and anticipation, including Neal’s story of losing his wedding ring!

Advent is a season of encounter not only surrounding Jesus’ birth, but a present everyday encounter through the Holy Spirit. 

Begin your Advent season with this encouraging episode and remember His arrival and presence changed everything!

Find Unbound and Abba's Heart
Listen to Evidence by Josh Baldwin

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Support our mission and donate today to our annual appeal!

Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: December 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

 With the American Thanksgiving holiday coming up next week, we thought this would be a great time to talk about gratitude. We love our Thanksgiving tradition , but the heart behind it is really taking time to be grateful and to express our thanksgiving to the Lord.

Have you ever considered that gratitude is a profound response to God's love and goodness? Join us as  Neal and Jacqueline reflect on significant experiences of giving thanks. Neal mentions  1 Thessalonians 5, highlighting that it is God's will we express thanks in all circumstances.

Neal and Jacqueline touch on several other scriptural passages:

 Psalm 136:1-3
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

Give thanks in all circumstances. It's at the heart of our personal relationship with Him.

Neal then offers suggestions for ways that we can grow in that act, in that discipline of giving thanks.

Psalm 50: 23
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders His way rightly I will show the salvation of God!

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

God's word makes it super clear that a thanksful heart is a heart that pleases Him.

Listen today and have your thankful heart restored.

Find Unbound and Abba's Heart.
Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences

Support our mission and donate today!

Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: November 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

In this episode, Matt interviews Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, President of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, who speaks forthrightly about seeing God’s freedom at work in the students and really all of God's people.

In the context of discussing freedom in Christ, Fr. Dave tells the story that led Franciscan University to offer new students free tuition for a semester. He and Matt discuss how unexpected ideas from the Lord require discernment and stepping out in faith!

We learn that freedom is a constant theme throughout the scriptures and how God always invites us back, even after we have compromised that freedom.

Fr. Dave teaches how “freedom from” something leads to “freedom for” a new future. He describes what freedom looks like, his inspiration by students who come from difficult situations into beautiful faith, and gives poignant examples of people allowing their suffering to count for the kingdom.

Be drawn into deeper freedom in your own life, and learn to walk in  the spirit through a more personal encounter with the Lord, reclaiming the kingdom of God in your heart.

Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences

Support our mission and donate today!

Check out Unbound and find other resources

Release: November 2023
Music by Christian Harper
Artwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S